Frequently Asked Questions

I would like to declare my major or minor with the Human Development and Family Studies Program.  What do I do? Students must request that a degree plan be completed for them and complete a general petition.  In order to be approved, students must have a 2.0 or higher G.P.A.  Once accepted to the Program, students should schedule regular meetings with an academic advisor in order to choose courses.  For more information, contact an academic advisor by phone 713-743-9830 or 713-743-4999 or by email at epsy@uh.edu.

How do I find out more information about courses which are “WHICIN-OFF”, “TAPE PURCHASE”, “CABLE” or “ONLINE” as locations? “WHICIN-OFF” indicates that the course will be located at the University of Houston Cinco Ranch Campus. “ONLINE” indicates that courses will be held primarily through a computer interface rather than in a classroom.  “TAPE PURCHASE” courses involve viewing prerecorded course lectures, which can be purchased on DVD through the Distance Education website, and “CABLE” courses allow students to view lectures at prearranged times on a cable channel.  Visit the Distance Education website to find out details about specific courses.

If I already have a Master’s or Doctoral degree, may I waive the GRE requirement? No, our policy is that all applicants must submit scores before their applications can be considered complete.

How old can my GRE score be? GRE scores must be 5 years old or newer in order to be considered as part of an application.

What GRE scores are expected of applicants? Because the admissions committee of each program reviews a wide range of elements before making a decision, falling below this guideline does not eliminate the possibility of admission.     The department prefers that applicants to our Master’s Programs score above the 30th percentile in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections and receive a score of 3.0 or higher on the Analytical Writing section. The department prefers that applicants to our Doctoral Programs score above the 35th percentile in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections and receive a score of 3.5 or higher on the Analytical Writing section. 

What is the G.P.A. requirement for applicants? The department prefers applicants to our Master’s Programs have a 3.0 or higher G.P.A. in all attempted courses.  The department prefers applicants to our Doctoral Programs have a 3.5 or higher G.P.A. in all attempted courses.

What scholarship and financial aid opportunities exist for students? Scholarship information is available through the College of Education.  Students are also eligible to apply for financial aid and scholarships through the University of Houston.  A limited number of graduate assistantships are also available, primarily for doctoral students.

Can I take courses before I am accepted to a program? Maybe.  Please review the information available about the parameters of Post-Baccalaureate status.

I wish to take only a few courses toward a certification and I do not need a Master’s Degree.  What do I do? Applicants must be accepted to the program area which offers the courses they need unless these courses may be taken at the Post-Baccalaureate level.  To learn more about this policy, please review the information about Non-Degree Objective status and Post-Baccalaureate status.

I began a graduate program at another university. Can I transfer those hours to this program?  A student may transfer up to 9 hours from another university into a Master’s Degree, with approval from the student’s faculty advisor.  A student may transfer up to 30 hours from another university into a Doctoral Degree.  All transfer courses must be approved by the Department Chair and Executive Associate Dean.  However, courses must meet certain requirements in order to transfer. The Department will not evaluate courses to determine whether they will be accepted as transfer courses until after a student has applied and been accepted to a program.